Manatee County buys Seafood Shack property in Cortez for $13M

Manatee County now owns the property containing the Seafood Shack in Cortez, concluding a real estate deal that was months in the making.

County commissioners voted unanimously in September to execute a contract on the nearly 9-acre property off 127th Street West.

The $13 million purchase closed on Dec. 31, 2024, staff told the Manatee County commissioners at their Jan. 8 board meeting. The property consists of 8.8 acres, including 5.9 acres of upland parcels and two submerged land leases of 2.9 acres.

Selling the property was Vandyk 1st Gulf Coast-Harbor Walk LLC, Vandyk 1st Gulf Coast-Dockside and Vandyk 1st Gulf Coast - Marina LLC, which owned the now-closed Seafood Shack restaurant.

“We do own the property off Cortez there now, the old Seafood Shack marina,” Deputy County Administrator Bryan Parnell told commissioners at their Jan. 8 meeting. “The primary purpose for this property will be a public boat ramp. … We’re excited about it.”

None of the previous tenants have leases, as the title was clear, according to Parnell, who said anyone visiting the property will see that operating would be unsafe due to storm damage. About 15 boats are capsized in the area, and the county will be working with natural resources personnel to handle them, he said.

Annie’s Bait & Tackle was the only lease that could be contemplated, since the other leases were related to the marina, and “we don’t have a marina,” Commission Chair George Kruse said. “I do fully want to try to make sure we keep that lease,” he said, requesting county staff reach out to the owner of Annie’s “to see if that’s a viable option … as we make changes to the Seafood Shack footprint.”

The next step is to outline the scope of work for the project before design and construction begin, according to Parnell. Staff will work with the commissioners to hold workshops to gather input, he added.

“This would be a great opportunity for us to test some new and innovative ideas,” said Commissioner Tal Siddique, who represents District 3, which includes Cortez. Siddique suggested the boat ramp could feature amenities that would make it more than “just some slab of concrete” for the public. “I highly doubt we’re going to have the opportunity to add more boat ramps in the county beyond this one and another one, so let’s make sure we get it right.”

Siddique also asked that there be a place for the public to fish and that plans include ferry service between Cortez and Bridge Street.

Of the acquisition, Siddique said: “I think it’s going to be a generational impact to the district.”